The V.I. Department of Justice is down to $6,000 in its fund for witness protection due to a "misunderstanding by" the V.I. Office of Management and Budget and will run out by Sept. 15, Attorney General Vincent Frazer said in budget hearings Tuesday.
While otherwise resigned to budget cuts this year, Frazer said, "We believe there is a need for at least $250,000 to replenish the fund" because there are four cases open with 14 people in the program at off-island locations.
One of Frazer’s staff elaborated that $500,000 was appropriated for witness protection in 2007, but lapsed before it was needed. Another $200,000 was subsequently appropriated and spent, and officials at OMB were operating on the assumption the $500,000 was available, when it was not, Frazer’s staff said.
Finance Committee Chairman Carlton "Ital" Dowe asked what Justice would do about protecting its witnesses if the funding did not materialize.
"We will find a way," Frazer said. "But I just want to plan for October."
Justice has plans to establish a new tax unit to pursue delinquent taxes and prosecute tax evaders, according to Frazer. While tightening its belt this year, the department needs more attorneys in several areas, especially its Civil Division. In fiscal 2011, Frazer said the division has opened 142 new cases to date, most of which are against the government.
By this time last year, Justice had opened 138 cases and closed 63 files. To date this year, they have closed 70 files.
"Thus it should be noted that we continue to see an increase in cases, which translates to an increase in caseload for the lawyers," and hence a need for more lawyers, he said.
In the Criminal Division, Justice filed 278 felony and 218 misdemeanor cases on St Thomas, and 109 felony and 198 misdemeanor cases on St. Croix. So far this year, Justice has successfully pursued 10 homicide convictions, Frazer added.
"We have witnessed a reduction in homicide and violent crime, and we believe it is a direct result of vigorous prosecution and the work of the V.I. Police Department," he said.
The proposed budget is currently $21.1 million, of which $13.8 million is from the V.I. General Fund and $5.9 million from federal funds. They are also expecting $495,000 from the Crime Prevention Fund and a miscellaneous appropriation of $940,000.
The General Fund appropriation reflects a $2.2-million, 13.6-percent, reduction from 2011. This is partly offset by a $428,000, 7.9-percent increase in federal funds, for a grand total that is roughly 8 percent less than last year.
"The current recommended budget shows a significant decrease in our appropriated funds from the General Fund, but I have no doubt that we will be able to meet the mission with the amount recommended with a noted exception," Frazer said, referring to the $250,000 needed for witness protection.
The budget numbers predate the Legislature’s recent austerity act temporarily cutting most government salaries by 8 percent, so final budget numbers will be somewhat lower than what was presented in budget hearings Tuesday, reflecting lower personnel costs.
The Legislature’s post audit projects personnel services, or salaries, to consume $9 million, or 65 percent of the locally funded Justice budget, with benefits accounting for another $2.5 million, or 18 percent, of the total locally funded budget.
No votes were taken at the information-gathering hearing.
Present were: Dowe, Sens. Sammuel Sanes, Nereida "Nellie" Rivera-O’Reilly and Janet Millin-Young.
